Asteroid to whiz past Earth tonight

By

AFP

PublishedFriday, February 15, 2013

The path of asteroid 2012 DA14's approach to earth is shown in this handout graphic from Nasa obtained by Reuters February 8, 2013. The 50-metre in diameter asteroid will pass inside the Earth's geosynchronous orbit, reaching its closest point February 15, 2013 (REUTERS)

Nasa is keeping close tabs on a sizable asteroid set to whiz past our planet Friday in what the US space agency says is the closest flyby ever predicted for such a large object.

"This distance is well away from Earth and the swarm of low Earth-orbiting satellites, including the International Space Station," it said in a statement on its website.

Still, "the flyby of 2012 DA14 is the closest-ever predicted approach to Earth for an object this large."

The space agency insisted there was nothing to fear.

"Nasa places a high priority on tracking asteroids and protecting our home planet from them," it said.

The asteroid will be visible in eastern Europe, Australia and Asia, according to astronomers, and Nasa noted the flyby will provide a "unique opportunity for researchers to study a near-Earth object up close."